GB2192616A

GB2192616A - Mail-handler device

Info

Publication number: GB2192616A
Application number: GB08715434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elliot Nevies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-02
Filing date: 1987-07-01
Publication date: 1988-01-20
Also published as: GB8715434D0; GB2192616B; GB8616146D0

Abstract

A mail-handler device for mounting adjacent to a mail-receiving slot 5 comprises sensing means eg contacts 14, 15 or flaps 6,8 for responding to the insertion of an item of mail through the slot from one side thereof, and conveying means eg rollers (10) for engaging the inserted item of mail and controlled by the sensing means so as to convey the inserted item of mail wholly through the mail- receiving slot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mail-handler device This invention relates to a mail-handler device for use with a mail-receiving slot and has been developed primarily, though not exclusively, in relation to the mailreceiving slots of domestic and businss premises, which usually take the form of a horizontal slot, and a spring or gravity biased cover plate which has to be opened to allow passage of a piece of mail through the slot.

In this specification, the term "mail" is intended to refer to any item of mail, such as letters, leaflets, brochures, newspapers, magazines and the like which are capable of being pushed through a letter-receiving slot or "letterbox".

Often, when the occupier of domestic premises is away on holiday or otherwise absent from his home, this fact is advertised by the presence of mail protruding out of the mail slot, or else not fully projected through the slot and into the interior of the home, or into a letterbox arranged to catch mail projected through the slot. This problem can be overcome by asking neighbours to push communicatory matter through the mail slot, but this will depend for its effectiveness upon the diligence of those asked to carry out this task.

According to the invention there is provided a mail handler device for mounting adjacent to a mail-receiving slot and comprising sensing means for responding to the insertion of an item of mail through the slot from one side thereof, and conveying means arranged to be capable of engaging the inserted item of mail and having its operation controlled by the sensing means so as to convey the inserted item of mail wholly through the mail-receiving slot and to the other side thereof with no part of the item projecting to said one side of the slot.

Preferably, the conveying means comprises an electrically driven roller, which may be mounted in a housing of a self-contained unit, which unit is adapted to be mounted below the mail-receiving slot. The unit may include a pivotable cover plate intended for mounting on said other side of the mail-receiving slot, and conveniently the cover plate forms part of the sensing means. The sensing means may also include a switch arranged to be in the path of movement of the cover plate, to be operated thereby.

Drive to operate the roller may be provided by an electric motor arranged in the unit, and preferably the motor is of a type suitable for battery operation, in which the unit will include a holder for a battery.

It is not essential to the invention for a single roller to be provided, and one embodiment provides a pair of rollers acting in cooperation with each other to convey mail away from the receiving slot.

The sensing means may also be connected to an audible alarm which sounds whenever an item of mail is pushed through the mailreceiving slot.

Frequently, maii-receiving slots are formed in entrance doors to a property, and the selfcontained unit, forming the mail-handler, may be attached to the inside of the door where there is an existing mail-receiving slot or letterbox. The self-contained mail-handler may be fitted to a door using four screws.

Four embodiments of mail-handler in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail, by way of exxample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of mail handler; Figure 2 is a section through the mailhandler of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the operation of the mail-handler; Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the mailhandler; Figure 5 is a section through a second embodiment of mail-handler; Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of the mailhandler of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the operation of the second embodiment of mailhandler; Figure 8 is a section through a third embodiment of mail-handler; Figure 9 is a schematic view of the operation of the third embodiment of mail-handler; Figure 10 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of mail-handler; and, Figure 11 is a rear view of the mail-handler of Figure 10.

A first mail-handler 1 is in the form of a box 2 which is attached to the inside face 3 of a door 4 adjacent a mail-receiving slot 5. A flap 6 is pivotally mounted via pivot pin 7 to the top front edge of the slot 5. An auxiliary flap 8 is pivotally mounted viapivotpin 9 on the inner face 3 of the door. On the inner side of the slot 5 are two parallel rollerslO which are drivenvia drive belt 11 by motor 12.

Around the surface of rollers 10 is a gripping surface 13 which in this case is sandpaper.

On each of flaps 6, 8 is a contact 14, 15 which together form a switch to supply power to motor 12 to drive the rollers 10 from a battery (not shown). When an item of mail 15 is inserted, it bears againstflap6 which pivots towards flap 8 until contacts 14 and 15 close the circuit, to supply power to motor 12. This rotates rollers 10 which propels the item of maill5 through the slot. When the item of mail 15 has passed almost over the last roller 10, the flap 6 can return to its position so that contacts 14 and 15 open the circuit so that the motor 12 does not drive the rollers 10 any longer.

Thus any item of mail 15 is pushed through the mail slot until it drops behind the door and there is no worry that the item of mail 15 can be left protruding outside. This eliminates any "give away sign of owner absenteeism.

A second mail-handler 16 includes two switches Ml and M2 for completing the circuit to drive the rollers 10.

A first flap 17 covers the front of the mail slot, and includes a contact 18 which contacts a further contact 19 when it has been rotated from its vertical position. An auxiliary flap 20 includes a contact 21 which comes into contact with 22 to close switch M2 when auxiliary flap 20 is rotated.

The switches M1 and M2 are connected in parallel which are connected to a motor to drive rollers 10 and to a bell 23. This means that when an item of mail has been posted the bell 23 sounds so that the occupier knows.

When an item of mail 24 is posted, the flap rotates to close switch M1 to start rollers 10.

Item of mail 24 is then propelled towards flap 20 to close switch M2. The first flap 17 then returns to its closed position, opening switch M1. However, M2 remains closed until the mail 24 has been conveyed right through the door.

In a third mail-handler 25 the operation is exactly the same as in first mail-handler 1.

However, a first inner flap 26 is provided adjacent to the inner side of mail slot 27, and a second inner flap 30 overlies flap 26. A protruding contact 28 is provided on the flap 26 so as to come into contact with flap 30, but the arrangement is such that the rollers will not be operated immediately upon entry of an item of mail 29, but only after a predetermined extent of insertion of the mail (see Figure 9).

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a fourth embodiment of mail-handler which is designated generally by reference 40.

In this embodiment, there is only a single drive roller for engaging and for conveying away an inserted item of mail. The mailhandler 40 is mounted below a mail-receiving slot on the inside face thereof e.g. on the inner face of a door provided with a letter slot. The surrounding frame or body of the slot is designated by reference 41, and an inner letter or cover flap 42 is pivotally mounted on pivot pin 45 so as to be movable upwardly by the insertion of an item of mail through the mail slot. The mail-handler 40 comprises a self-contained unit having a front cover 43 of a housing in which drive roller 44 is rotatably mounted on roller supports 46.

A small Meccano-type electric motor 47 is mounted in the housing, and is drivingly coupled with the roller 44 via puiley 48 and drive band 49. Reference 50 designated machine screws for mounting the motor in position within the housing, and connecting wires 51 extend from a microswitch 55 to battery 53, and then to motor 47. The battery 53 is mounted in holder 52 provided in the housing, and the microswitch 55 is mounted by machine screw 56 on the housing adjacent to one of the supports 46 of the roller 44. The microswitch 55 is arranged in the path of movment of the cover plate 42, so as to operate the sswitch and thereby trigger the operation of the motor 47.

The microswitch 55 is arranged such that only one roller support protrudes through the front cover 43, the roller itseif having been removed. The switch connections are made to the common and normally closed contacts.

Sensitivity may be adjusted by bending a lever so that the motor 47 starts just as the inner closure flap 42 opens.

Claims

1. A mail-handler device for mounting adjacent to a mail-receiving slot and comprising sensing means for responding to the insertion of an item of mail through the slot from one side thereof, and conveying means arranged to be capable of engaging the inserted item of mail and having its operation controlled by the sensing means so as to convey the inserted item of mail wholly through the mailreceiving slot and to the other side thereof, with no part of the item projecting to said one side of the slot.

2. A mail-handler device according to Claim 1, in which the conveying means comprises an electrically driven roller.

3. A mail-handler device according to Claim 2, in which the roller is mounted in a housing of a selfcontained unit, which unit is adapted to be mounted below the mail-receiving slot.

4. A mail-handler device according to Claim 3, in which the unit includes a pivotable cover plate intended for mounting on said other side of the mail-receiving slot.

5. A mail-handler device according to Claim 4, in which the cover plate forms part of said sensing means.

6. A mail-handler device according to Claim 5, in which the sensing means includes a switch arranged to be in the path of movement of the cover plate.

7. A mail-handler device according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, in which the unit includes an electric motor drivingly coupled with said roller.

8. A mail-handler device according to Claim 7, in which the electric motor is battery operated, and the unit includes a holder for a battery.

9. A mail-handler device according to any one of the preceding claims, including a pair of rollers.

10. A mail-handler device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sensing means is connected to an audible alarm which sounds whenever an item of mail is pushed through the mail-receiving slot.

11. A mail-handler device according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.